Pison simplex Pulawski, 2018

Pulawski, Wojciech J., 2018, A Revision of the Wasp Genus Pison Jurine, 1808 of Australia and New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 65, pp. 1-584 : 419-421

Pison simplex Pulawski , species nova

Figures 1017-1020.

NAME DERIVATION.– Simplex is a Latin adjective meaning simple; with reference to the lack of specialized structures in this species.

RECOGNITION.– Pison simplex is an all black species (tarsi ferruginous in some specimens), with three submarginal cells, the second recurrent vein interstitial with the second intersubmarginal cell or nearly so, the tegula unsculptured except anteriorly, rounded apically, and not particularly elongate, and the propodeum with a longitudinal carina separating the dorsum and posterior surface from the side and extending from the gastropropodeal articulation toward the spiracle. The setae of tergum I are either all appressed or suberect on the top of the anterior declivity, shorter than the midocellar diameter. The male is unknown. The female is mainly characterized by the absence of specializations found elsewhere. So, the clypeal middle section is slightly, evenly convex, the clypeal lobe is well differentiated, the clypeal lamella is obtusely rounded, the occipital and the hypostomal carinae are not expanded, the punctures of the frons are less than one diameter apart, the mesopleural punctures are nearly compressed, the propodeal dorsum is obliquely ridged, punctate between rides; tergum I is not elongate (length less than apical width), the sterna are punctate throughout, the setae of the lower gena are sinuous, as long as 1.2-1.6 × midocellar diameter, the ter apart and the propodeal posterior surface has several conspicuous ridges radiating up from transverse carina just above the gastropropodeal articulation, whereas in the other two species all scutal punctures are less than one diameter apart and the propodeal posterior surface has no radiating ridges. Also, in P. xanthognathos , the longitudinal carina of the propodeum that separates the dorsum and the posterior surface from the side is replaced by a series of short, transverse carinae, whereas in P. simplex the carina is well defined.

DESCRIPTION.– Frons dull, with moderately well defined punctures less than one diameter apart. Labrum not emarginate. Anteromedian pronotal pit oval, about as long as midocellar diameter. Scutum not foveate along flange, without longitudinal ridges adjacent to posterior margin; scutal punctures well defined, most of them less than one diameter apart (Fig. 1018), but several to many midscutal punctures behind center more than one diameter apart; interspaces unsculptured. Tegula enlarged. Mesopleural punctures well defined, nearly compressed against each other. Postspiracular carina evanescent, about half as long as midocellar diameter. Metapleural sulcus costulate between dorsal and ventral metapleural pits. Propodeum with irregular longitudinal carina separating side from dorsum and posterior surface and extending from gastral socket area toward spiracle; dorsum obliquely ridged; side ridged, punctate between ridges; posterior surface conspicuously, transversely ridged (Fig. 1019), with several conspicuous ridges radiating up from transverse carina just above gastropropodeal articulation. Hindcoxal dorsum with outer margin obtusely carinate. Punctures of tergum I about one diameter apart on horizontal portion (nearly compressed on apical depression). Sterna punctate throughout.

Setae silvery, erect on scutum, not concealing integument on clypeus; setae of tergum I appressed in many specimens, but in some specimens suberect, shorter than midocellar diameter on top of anterior declivity; setae of lower gena sinuous, 1.2-1.6 × midocellar diameter in length. Apical depressions of terga with silvery, setal fasciae.

Body all black, mandible ferruginous mesally, tarsi ferruginous in some specimens (all or partly).

♀.– Upper interocular distance equal to 0.90-0.94 × lower interocular distance; ocellocular distance equal to 1.2-1.5 × hindocellar diameter, distance between hindocelli equal to 1.3-1.4 × hindocellar diameter; eye height equal to 0.88-0.90 × distance between eye notches. Free margin of clypeal lamella obtusely rounded (Fig. 1017). Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.2-2.4 × apical width, of flagellomere IX 1.1-1.3 × apical width. Mandible: trimmal carina with preapical tooth at about two thirds of length. Length 6.8-8.0 mm; head width 1.1-1.4 mm.

♂.– Unknown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1020).–

Northern parts of Northern Territory and of

Queensland.

RECORDS.– HOLOTYPE: ♀, AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory : Gregory National Park at 16°07ʹ55ʺS

130°26ʹ11ʺE, 16-18 June 2001, M.E. Irwin, F.D.

Parker, and C. Lambkin (ANIC).

PARATYPES: AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory :

Buchanan Highway 31 km SSE Victoria Highway at

15°57ʹ37ʺS 130°38ʹ20ʺE, 14-15 June 2001 (1 ♀,

ANIC), 15 June 2001, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker

(1 ♀, ANIC; 2 ♀, CAS), 18-19 June 2001 (1 ♀,

CAS); Gregory National Park, T. Weir, K. Pullen,

and P. Bouchard at 15°58.3ʹS 130°29.3ʹE, 6-9 June

FIGURE 1020. Collecting localities of Pison simplex 2001 (1 ♀, ANIC; 1 ♀, CAS), at 15°58ʹ17ʺS

Pulawski, sp. nov.

130°29ʹ17ʺE, 24 May – 4 June 2001 (1 ♀, CAS), at

16°03ʹ44ʺS 130°27ʹ04ʺE, 24 May – 4 June 2001 (2 ♀, CAS) , 16°03.7ʹS 130°27.1ʹE, 24 May – 4 June 2001 (3 ♀, ANIC; 2 ♀, CAS), and at 16°06ʹ42ʺS 130°25ʹ23ʺE, 24 May – 5 June 2001 (2 ♀, CAS) , and M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, and C. Lambkin at 16°03.7ʹS 130°27.1ʹE, 6-12 June 2001 (4 ♀, CAS) , at 16°06.6ʹS 130°25.7ʹE, 24 May – 4 June 2001 (1 ♀, ANIC) , at 16°07ʹ55ʺS 130°26ʹ11ʺE, 16-18 June 2001 (2 ♀, ANIC; 3 ♀, CAS), and at 16°12ʹ47ʺS 130°25ʹ11ʺE, 12-15 June 2001 (1 ♀, CAS) . Queensland: 4 km NE Batavia Downs at 12°39ʹS 142°42ʹE, 22 June to 23 Aug 1992, P. Zborowski and J.C. Cardale (5 ♀, ANIC) .